Cross-franchise object substitutions for immersive media

Abstract

In one example, a method performed by a processing system including at least one processor includes rendering an extended reality environment including a first object associated with a first media franchise, identifying a second object to replace the first object in the extended reality environment, wherein the second object is associated with at least one of: the first media franchise or a second media franchise different from the first media franchise, and rendering the second object in the extended reality media in place of the first object.

1 . A method comprising:
 rendering, by a processing system including at least one processor, an extended reality environment in an extended reality application, wherein the extended reality environment includes a first object associated with a first media franchise;   identifying, by the processing system, a second object to replace the first object in the extended reality environment, wherein the second object is associated with at least one of: the first media franchise or a second media franchise different from the first media franchise; and   rendering, by the processing system, the second object in the extended reality application such that the second object replaces the first object in the extended reality environment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second object is identified in a signal received from a user endpoint device operated by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the processing system prompts the user to identify the second object in response to detecting a predefined occurrence in the extended reality environment, wherein the predefined occurrence signifies a time or at a location at which to replace the first object. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the processing system presents the user with a plurality of candidate second objects prior to the user identifying the second object in the signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein an availability of a candidate object as one of the plurality of candidate second objects is based on at least one of: a current context of the extended reality environment, a capability of the user endpoint device, a cost of using the candidate object, a connectivity status between the processing system and the user endpoint device, or a prior use by other users of the candidate object in the extended reality environment. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rendering the second object comprises superimposing a mannerism of the second object onto a skeleton rig. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the rendering the second object further comprises superimposing a physical characteristic of the second object onto the skeleton rig. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the mannerism and the physical characteristic are stored in a profile of the second object. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 extracting, by the processing system, a feature of a surrounding environment of a user for use in rendering the extended reality environment; and   modifying, by the processing system, the second object based on the feature of the surrounding environment.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 extracting, by the processing system, a feature of a user for use in rendering the extended reality environment; and   modifying, by the processing system, the second object based on the feature of the user.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the feature of the user is extracted from a profile of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the modifying comprises modifying an appearance of the second object to exhibit a physical characteristic of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rendering the second object comprises verifying that a use of the second object in the extended reality environment is in compliance with any use policy associated with the extended reality environment, the first media franchise, or the second media franchise. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing, by the processing system, a record of a substitution of the second object for the first object in the extended reality environment.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the record includes at least one of: an identity of the first object, an identity of the second object, or an identity of the extended reality environment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the record further includes at least one of: a modification made to the second object based on a surrounding environment of a user who has requested the rendering or a modification made to the second object based on a feature of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the record is stored in a manner that is accessible to a user who has requested the rendering. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the record is stored in a manner that is accessible to at least one of: an owner of the first object or an owner of the second object. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processing system including at least one processor, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 rendering an extended reality environment in an extended reality application, wherein the extended reality environment includes a first object associated with a first media franchise;   identifying a second object to replace the first object in the extended reality environment, wherein the second object is associated with at least one of: the first media franchise or a second media franchise different from the first media franchise; and   rendering the second object in the extended reality application such that the second object replaces the first object in the extended reality environment.   
     
     
         20 . A device comprising:
 a processing system including at least one processor; and   a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 rendering an extended reality environment in an extended reality application, wherein the extended reality environment includes a first object associated with a first media franchise; 
 identifying a second object to replace the first object in the extended reality environment, wherein the second object is associated with at least one of: the first media franchise or a second media franchise different from the first media franchise; and 
 rendering the second object in the extended reality application such that the second object replaces the first object in the extended reality environment.